Thunder vs Timberwolves Showdown: Live Updates, Score, Highlights & Must-See Plays of Tonight’s NBA Playoff Clash

The Oklahoma City Thunder seized a commanding 2-0 edge in the 2025 Western Conference Finals on Thursday night, outgunning the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-103 behind a 38-point masterpiece from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The series now shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3 at Target Center on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC), where Anthony Edwards and the Wolves hope home-court energy can spark a turnaround. Gilgeous-Alexander controlled tempo from the opening tip, slicing through Minnesota’s top-ranked defense for 14 first-quarter points and finishing 14-for-24 from the field. His downhill pressure opened clean looks for Jalen Williams (22 points) and Chet Holmgren (17 points, 11 rebounds) as Oklahoma City posted 56 points in the paint and shot 51.8 percent overall. Minnesota briefly closed within five early in the fourth quarter when Edwards buried back-to-back threes, but the Thunder answered with a 13-2 run sparked by Gilgeous-Alexander’s pull-up triple and a Kenrich Williams corner three. Edwards poured in 31 points yet struggled to draw whistles, attempting only four free throws against OKC’s switch-heavy scheme. Karl-Anthony Towns (19 points) fouled out with 3:12 remaining, extinguishing any late rally hopes. Key to the Thunder’s stranglehold has been turnover suppression: the NBA’s least-sloppy regular-season team is averaging just 9.5 giveaways through two games, while forcing 28 combined Timberwolves miscues that have converted into 36 points. Minnesota head coach Chris Finch acknowledged post-game that “loose passes and live-ball turnovers are feeding their transition; we have to value possessions in Minneapolis.” Saturday’s Game 3 looms as a virtual must-win for the Wolves. No team has ever erased a 3-0 deficit in the conference-finals era, and Oklahoma City enters 6-0 on the road this postseason. Finch hinted at possible rotation tweaks, including more minutes for veteran point guard Mike Conley to stabilize half-court offense and additional Patrick Beverley minutes to pester Gilgeous-Alexander. Conversely, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault wants his young roster to stay aggressive: “We haven’t accomplished anything yet. The hardest wins are always the next ones, especially in a hostile building.” Chet Holmgren, returning to his home state, said he expects “a white-out, ear-splitting environment, but that’s what playoff basketball is all about.” Injury reports could swing momentum. Minnesota listed Rudy Gobert (left ankle sprain) and Jaden McDaniels (hip contusion) as questionable Friday, while OKC remains fully healthy aside from long-term absentee Aleksej Pokusevski. Tip-off Saturday will determine whether the Timberwolves extend the West Finals or whether the Thunder move within one victory of their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012.